Established in 1989 by the European Commission, EUCYS aims to promote cooperation and information exchange among young scientists. The contest originated from a Europe-wide science fair initiated by Royal Philips in 1968 and was adopted by the Commission under the leadership of President Jacques Delors. Since its inception, EUCYS has been hosted in various European cities, including Brussels, Copenhagen, Zurich, Seville, Berlin, Luxembourg, and many others. This contest has highlighted the exceptional achievements of young scientists and has played a significant role in encouraging careers in science and technology.
Over the years, EUCYS has seen a steady rise in interest and participation. From just 53 contestants in its inaugural year in 1989, the number grew to nearly 150 young scientists by 2024. While innovative projects come from a wide range of scientific disciplines, fields like physics have traditionally received the most recognition, whereas areas such as materials engineering and social sciences tend to be awarded less frequently.
